Sectional boat



Jan. 15, 1963 F. M. HILL. 3,072,928

sEcTIoNAL BOAT Filed Sept. 2. 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 uwbwwv Nw Y mw Jan. 15, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 2, 1960 INVENToR. F24/me M United States 3,072,928 Patented Jan. 15, 1963 free 3,072,928 SECTIONAL BOAT Frank M. Hill, Potsdam, N.Y. (23 Walden Place, West Caldwell, NJ.) Filed Sept. 2, 1960, Ser. No. 53,668 2 Claims. (Cl. 9-2) This invention relates to a novel and improved sectional boat.

'Ihe primary object of the invention is the provision of a more easily portable sectional boat composed of sections which are adapted to be comfortably carried by individual persons, and which, while being carried, serve as shelters, as against rain and tree branches, and/or as carriers for equipment and supplies, the sections having carrying straps which are engageable with the belt of the individuals, and back-engaging straps, so as to leave the hands free, with the sections in vertical positions along the backs of individuals and positioned over their heads, so that narrow paths or defiles, as in dense woods or underbrush, can be negotiated without delaying and tiring contacts with tree branches, brush, and rocks at the sides thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a less expensive, stronger, and more water-worthy, and more easily assembled and disassembled sectional boat of the character indicated above, which is composed of a middle section, and two end sections, the end sections being substantially similar, and wherein each section has therein a combined buoyant chamber and equipment and Supply locker, which when closed renders the sections unsinkable, and which can provide ample storage and carrying means for equipment and supplies for three persons, and can eliminate the need for carrying extra packs and carriers.

Other important objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein, for purposes of illustration only, a specific form of the invention is set forth in detail.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is a top plan view of a boat o-f the invention, in assembled condition;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 3 3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 5 5 of FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 6 is a schematic perspective View, showing an end section mounted on a person for portage.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, the illustrated boat, generally designated 10, is in the form of a canoe, but can have any boat form.

The boat 10 is constituted by substantially similar rst and second end sections 12 and 14, respectively, and a single middle section 16, which are preferably made of aluminum, and .are preferably of seamless construction.

The ilrst end section 12 has a substantially llat bottom wall 18 which has convex-concave side portions 20 which merge especially into substantially ilat prependicular side walls 22. The side Walls 22 are curved longitudinally and converge longitudinally outwardly to a stem 24. As shown in FIGURE 4, the stern 24 is curved downwardly and rearwardly, and the bottom wall 18 is curved upwardly and forwardly, as are the lower portions of the Side walls 22, so as to provide a typical canoe spoon bow 26. The longitudinally inward end of the sectiond 12 is closed and braced by a perpendicular transverse bulkhead wall 18, which extends upwardly from the bottom wall 1S and is joined to the side Walls 22, at a point near to and spaced forwardly from the rear ends of the Side walls, so as to provide, on the side Walls, and on the bottom Wall, inwardly extending assembling flanges 30.

The second end section 14 has a bottom wall 13', sidev walls 22', with concavo-convex lower portions 20', a stem 24', and a bow 26', and a bulkhead wall 28', like those of the first section 12, and assembling flanges 30. In the arrangement shown in FIGURE l of the drawings, the assembling ilan'ges 30 of the rst end section 12 are laterally inwardly offset, relative to the side walls 22, whereas the assembling flanges 30 of the second end section 14, are coplanar with the side walls 22. However, both sets of assembling flanges can be either oifset or coplanar, if desired, the preference for using coplanar flanges on the forward or bow section 14 and olfset flanges on the rear or stern section 12 residing in the fact that such arrangement provides a smoother exterior on the assembled boat and one which produces less water resistance along the sides of the boat, when in forward motion in the water.

The middle section 16 is of elongated rectangular form, and has a flat bottom wall 32, and straight flat side walls 34, including concave-convex lower portions, shaped and dimensioned like the walls of the end sections, and the side walls and the bottom wall have thereon first assembling flanges 38, and second assembling flanges 40, or related ends thereof, which extend beyond first and seco-nd bulkhead walls 43 and 43', respectively, which close the ends of the middle section 16.

As shown in FIGURE l, the rst or rear assembling flanges 38, of the middle section 16, are coplanar with the side walls and the bottom wall thereof, and are arranged to engage the outer sidesrof the offset assembling flanges 30 of the first or rear end section 12, while the second or forward assembly ilanges 40 of the middle section are inwardly oifset to engage the inward sides of the assembling flanges 30 of the second or forward end section 14.

For assembling the boat section, vertical rows of bolts 42 extend through openings provided in the engaged assembling flanges, the bolts having ilat rounded heads 44 on their outer ends, and Wing nuts 46, on their inward ends. The rear and forward spaces 48 and 48 respectively, which are provided by the spacings of the end sections bulkhead walls and the middle section bulkhead walls from each other, provide easy access to the wing nuts 46, for tightening and loosening the same, for assembling and disassembling the boat sections.

Horizontal cross straps Si) and 52 are provided in the bows of the first and second end sections 12 and 14, respectively, which are suitably secured, at their ends, to loops 54 provided on the inward sides of related side walls, on a level below the upper edges of the side walls. The cross straps 50, 52 serve as comfortably carrying straps, which, as shown in FIGURE 6, are adapted to bear upon the back of the shoulders 56 of a person carrying or portaging an end section, with the bow of the section spaced above and around the head 58, and with the inward end of the section behind the hips. Cooperating with the cross straps 50, 52, the end sections 12 and 14 have pairs of belt straps 60 and 62, respectively, which have outer ends which are suitably secured, as indicated at 64, to the inward sides of the side walls, forwardly of the cross straps, and which have free inner ends provided with loops 66, to receive portions of the front part -of the persons belt 68, with the belt straps comfortably engaged with the front of the body and of the shoulders, so that the arms 70 andthe hands 72 are left free.

which ar-e adapted to bear against the hips of the carrying person when portaging the sections,y in the manner indcatedaboye.

'lheboxes 78,. vas shown in FIGURES 1, 3 and 4 are rectangular, andhave bottom walls 80 bearing upon the boat section; bottom` Walls, end Walls 82 bearing against t related sidewalls, and irst and second side Walls 84 and 86,Y respectively, and open tops. On the upper edges of the` walls 82, 84, and 86, are inwardly extending abbreviated top flanges 88, 90- and 92, respectively, which define rectangular -openings 94. Hinged, as indicated at 96, tothe free edges of the flanges 88, are the adjacent edgesV of at lids 98, which in their closed positions, bear downwardly upon abbreviated anges. Inset in the upper surfaces of the anges 92 are compressible sealing gaskets 100, and sealing plates 102, to exactly iit and seal the openings 94, are secured to the undersides of the lids 98. Hasps 104 are hinged, as indicated at 106, on the free edges of the lids, to engage over detents 108, suitably mounted on the outer sides of the second side Walls 86 of the boxes. When the lids 98 are closed and locked, with or without supplies and equipment present therein, the boxes 78 holdenough air, singly or in combination, to keep the individual sections or the entire boat aoat in water. The lids 98- of the boxes y7S are depressed below thebevelof the upper edges of the side Walls` of the sections, as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, and serve as seats for the occupants of the sections, and can be padded, if desired, for additional comfort while paddling the boat, and While portaging the individual sections.

Although there have been shown and described herein preferred forms of the invention, it is to be understood that theV invention is not necessarily confined thereto, and that any change or changes in the structure of and' in the relative arrangements of components thereof are contemplated as being within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. A sectional boat comprising a middle section and rst and second end sections, said sections having side Walls and bottom Walls, meeting ends of the sections having longitudinally extending and overlapped assembling flanges extending from their bottom and side Walls, and bolts extending through overlapped assembling anges of the side Walls at opposite sides of the sections, transverse shoulder straps extending across the sections and secured at their ends to the side Walls ofthe sections, the cross straps of the rst and second sections being located in their bows and spaced from their sterns and the straps of middle section being located intermediate the ends thereof.

2. A sectional boat comprising a middle section andiirst and second end sections, said sections having side walls and bottom Walls, meeting ends of Ithe sections having longitudinally extending and overlapped assembling anges extending from their bottom and side walls, and bolts extending through overlapped assembling ilanges of the side Walls at opposite sides of the sections, transverse shoulder straps extending across the sections andl secured at their ends to the side walls of the sections, the cross straps of the first and second sections being located in their bows and spaced from their sterns andY the straps of middle section being located intermediate the ends thereof, and pairs of longitudinal belt-engaging straps Within the sections and having ends secured to related sides and free ends having belt-receiving loops thereon.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 247,827 Hunt et al. Oct. 4, 1881 1,035,046 Pitre ,-n-- Aug. 6, 1912 1,597,303 Wade Aug. 24, 1926 2,401,453k Bell et al June 4, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS 465,246 GreatV Britain ,-e May 4, 1937 743,770 Great Britain Jan. 2,5, 1956 

2. A SECTIONAL BOAT COMPRISING A MIDDLE SECTION AND FIRST AND SECOND END SECTIONS, SAID SECTIONS HAVING SIDE WALLS AND BOTTOM WALLS, MEETING ENDS OF THE SECTIONS HAVING LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING AND OVERLAPPED ASSEMBLING FLANGES EXTENDING FROM THEIR BOTTOM AND SIDE WALLS, AND BOLTS EXTENDING THROUGH OVERLAPPED ASSEMBLING FLANGES OF THE SIDE WALLS AT OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE SECTIONS, TRANSVERSE SHOULDER STRAPS EXTENDING ACROSS THE SECTIONS AND SECURED AT THEIR ENDS TO THE SIDE WALLS OF THE SECTIONS THE CROSS STRAPS OF THE FIRST AND SECOND SECTIONS BEING LOCATED IN THEIR BOWS AND SPACED FROM THEIR STERNS AND THE STRAPS OF MIDDLE SECTION BEING LOCATED INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS THEREOF, AND PAIRS OF LONGITUDINAL BELT-ENGAGING STRAPS WITHIN THE SECTIONS AND HAVING ENDS SECURED TO RELATED SIDES AND FREE ENDS HAVING BELT-RECEIVING LOOPS THEREON. 